Residents are encouraged to have their say on the long-term future of cycling in Gloucestershire by taking part in an online consultation.

By working with Sustrans, a charity that looks after the national cycling network, the council aims to identify a potential long-term strategic cycling network across the county and wants residents to give their views.

This network would connect people and places across the county with safe and accessible routes for everyone.

A better connected cycling network across the county will enable more people to get on their bikes and switch to an active mode of transport.

Improved cycling facilities is a part of the council’s commitment to help create a Greener Gloucestershire.

The council is committed to encouraging cycling by both improving facilities and promoting cycling wherever possible. This includes the recent promotion of the Women’s Tour and Tour of Britain, which saw the women’s race come to the county in June and the men’s race follows on 9 September.

Investment has also been made into the flagship cycle route linking Gloucester to Cheltenham, which forms part of the proposed 26-mile cycle spine stretching from Stroud to Bishop’s Cleeve.

Views from residents will help form the long-term ambitions for cycling in the county. As well as wanting to hear from cyclists about their experiences, the county council is keen to understand any potential barriers to residents getting on their bikes.

To take part in the consultation, visit our website at https://haveyoursaygloucestershire.uk.engagementhq.com/cycling-improvement-plan.

Alternatively, paper copies of the consultation are available. To request a paper copy, call 01452 426 793 or email ltp@gloucestershire.gov.uk.

Please be advised of the following temporary road closure:-

Parts of Tuffley Avenue, Gloucester

This road will be closed as per the attached map on 20th July 2022 between 9:00 & 15:00 to allow for works by Severn Trent Water.

We are advised of the following:

‘The closure will be between Podsmead Road and Tuffley Crescent and should not affect businesses’. 

If you should require further information please contact streetworks@gloucestershire.gov.uk.

Nature Nurtures, a free weekly nature club is back.

Run by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, it will provide 8 activity sessions for children aged 5-11 throughout the early Autumn.

There is a limited number of spaces available so please contact in advance to book.

Details are on the poster.

Gloucester Crematorium are holding a family open day for people wanting to find out more about how they support the community, Saturday, July 23, 10am-3pm.

Talk to the staff about the crematorium and how it helps people say goodbye to their loved ones.

There will be a tour and an opportunity for people to leave a message on a special butterfly board, decorate a pebble inspired by the memory of a loved one or leave a message on the memorial tree ??

You can also take the opportunity to light a candle and reflect in the chapel ?️

For more information please ring 01452 396902 ?

Recently I put out to residents the question of the name for a new street in Podsmead. This is the development to the rear of 7 Podsmead Road, backing onto Podsmead Place.

The developers had suggested Wingate Close but we have gone for the more historically accurate Winget Close to reflect the association with the Winget company at the Wagon Works.

There were many good suggestions which I will bear in mind for future use, but on this occasion the name Winget Close was the winner by some margin, so I have forwarded this name to the council.

There is a job opportunity for an Employment Skills Learning Project Coordinator for Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society.

Please contact Sue Cunningham for the application forms, or ask me and I can email them to you. Email all completed applications and monitoring forms to s.j.cunningham@glcommunities.org.uk.

The closing date is 5pm on 25th July. Shortlisting w/c 25th July. Interviews on 1st of August.

Recently a consultation event was held at the current clubhouse for Gloucester Athletics Club, regarding the potential development at Blackbridge.

This plan would allow for a 3G floodlit playing field, a new clubhouse with a gym, changing facilities, studio space, cafe and bar etc, enhanced cricket and rugby natural pitches, and car parking for the site. There is provision for 30 houses next to the existing New Dawn development, which was part of the Gloucester City Plan and would enable contributions to be made to the overall financing of the project.

Access to the site is being proposed through Laburnum Road, and whilst there would be a loss of parking at the top of the road, this would be mitigated by provision of resident-only parking in the smaller of the two car parks.

Environmental studies would be commissioned as part of the planning process, and resident input would be welcomed on what people would like to see.

Understandably, there are some concerns about the access road and increased traffic and/or loss of parking, and other things like security and environmental concerns.

What I would say is that plans are still being developed at this stage, so nothing is set in stone.

Update – there has been a delay of a few months to allow a traffic survey in September to give a true picture of the current traffic. The planning application will likely go to the city council in January 2023.

I will take on board all comments received and look to represent the will of the community as much as possible. I would urge people to have their say as early and as often as possible.

Below is a letter I recently delivered to local homes.

You can view the presentation boards that were displayed at the consultation events here: https://www.sfplanning.co.uk/blackbridge-consultation.

Please keep an eye out for Eva, a 7 month old cat (but looks like a kitten).

She went missing in June from the Neven Place area of Podsmead (part of the new estate at Earls Park).

Anyone with info as to her whereabouts please contact Vicki Macfarlane on 07704114430.

Recently Crypt Head Nick Dyer and I had one of our regular meetings.

We discussed things like our work with Read with Me in the community, the Highways plan for the Podsmead regeneration scheme, the availability of school facilities for the community, and that Crypt are hopefully going to be able to collect donated food for Poets Pantry.

Crypt are an important part of the Podsmead community and it is great that they work well with local councillors and residents.

An application for the £150 Energy Rebate for those eligible households who don’t pay their council tax by direct debit is now open on www.gloucester.gov.uk

Council Tax Energy Rebate – Gloucester City Council

Over 33,500 energy rebates have been paid to City Residents so far and those who are eligible but have not yet received their £150 rebate are invited to apply online at: Council Tax Energy Rebate – Gloucester City Council

Applicants are reminded that they must be the named council tax bill payer, have their ten digit council tax account number which begins with 030 (found on their bill at point 2) and provide a recent bank statement showing name and full address in order to submit an online application.

Eligible residents have until the 14^th of August to apply for the £150 energy rebate, however any eligible resident who has not submitted a successful application by the closing date will not miss out, as the £150 energy rebate will be added onto the council tax account and a new bill with revised instalments will be issued.

Full details are on the Energy Rebate page of the City Council website.